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Anastasia Musical 2022 Tour
I didn’t grow up with movie Anastasia. The first time my family watched I was a teenager and grounded (!), so I missed out; I’m not sure I watched it until I was an adult. My little sisters did grow up with it. And one of them (L) went on a Northeast trip in 2016 or 2017 and saw the/one of the original Broadway casts, and she came back head over heels for Derek Klena. I, of course, already loved Ramin Karimloo from the Phantom, and I wish I’d just splurged and immediately gone to NYC just for that. I’d 0nly heard bits and pieces from youtube, but I think more of my sisters listened to the whole thing.
For my 30th I bought tickets when it came to Louisville in 2020. Literally the week before my date (I think they’d done a few performances), our state shut down. It got delayed and delayed and then cancelled. I was dreading driving downtown (I’d only driven twice maybe in my life), so I wasn’t super disappointed (and this is why I miss out on stuff). But my sisters saw it was coming back this year (I’m not sure if this would be the cast that was traveling in 2020 or not), so all of us sisters and my sister-in-law bought tickets. We all dressed up, some buying dresses especially for the event, and I on a budget and because I’m me, made mine, finishing it the evening of and running late to meet the sister I was riding with. Classic.
So, as I mentioned I wasn’t familiar with the Broadway version, my sisters said it didn’t have Rasputin and that it was attempting to be more realistic (although yes, the magic part was unreal, but there was something unnatural/supernatural about what it took to kill the real Rasputin). L also thought that the replacement bad guy (Gleb) had a lot more singing because of Karimloo. So, yes, while they didn’t literally reenact the murders (thank the stars above), it was artistically displayed with dancing, shots, and the Red Army. I was holding back tears.
I couldn’t remember if it had “Back to December.” It did and several other songs from the movie as well. My sisters didn’t think that Anya (at least some of us thought she had better voice than the original Broadway singer) and Dmitry (no Derek Klena) had much chemistry, but she sure did with Gleb (Ben Edquist). But then, wow, he kind of stole the show. My sister-in-law ventured to say he might be better than Ramin Karimloo, I don’t know about that but I think I preferred his voice. And oh, he knew he was good, he was sending kisses to the audience at the end! For him alone this is worth going to!
We had so much fun, and we are hoping to do more events like this together in the future. It’s just so fun to dress up and go places (when I’m not driving).
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My Favorite Songs from My Favorite Musicals
I started writing out my comment on this post, and I realized it would be far too long and should make a post.Favorite musical numbers from live-action musicals· Sound of Music: the Ländler, “Edelweiss,” and “My Few of My Favorite Things”· Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: “Goin Courtin”· Les Mis: (not a huge fan; I’ve also only seen the movie): “Do You Hear the People Sing”· Phantom: “Think of Me Fondly,” “All I ask of You,” “The Music of the Night,” And, well most of the songs· Music Man: “Good Night My Someone”Disney/Animated Favorites· Tangled: “At Last I See the Light” and “Kingdom Dance”· Beauty and the Beast: “Prologue” music and “Transformation”· How to Train Your Dragon 2: “For the Dancing and the Dreaming”· Swan Princess: “Far Longer than Forever”· Anastasia: “Once Upon a December”· Tarzan: “You’ll Be in My Heart”I like other Disney songs, but I think these are my favorites. -
State Fair (1945)
Okay, Gregory Peck has a rival in Dana Andrews (okay, so Peck is probably still my favorite leading man, but Andrews comes in close second).I enjoyed this film. Dana Andrews is so handsome, Margie’s outfits are so pretty (I mean to make some similar), the Frake parents are hilarious, and its just fun. But I thought Margie and Wayne’s naivete rather disconcerting. Hers, because normally for a story like this, the guy is a Wickham or Willoughby who means naught, and his, because a grown man should not be that dumb. Also, I can understand Margie’s discontent; she had a unattractive, boring, maybe suitor, and wanted a more interesting life. But Wayne had everything he wanted and needed. I think their stories show the difference between not wanting to settle versus discontent. And I am glad of the ending, even though I think early Hollywood has a desire to make everything end unnaturally happy (more on this theme). I mean more often (Roman Holiday does exist after all) than modern films and more wholly. -
The Music Man
We went and saw two high school/middle school theater productions in the past few weeks. One was Pride and Prejudice which I must say was rather mediocre, especially in light of the second production. I do not think the story lends itself well to play format anyway though.
The other performance was The Music Man. I had heard of the movie, but opted out of joining my family to see it as I wanted to spend my coveted evening working productively (which miraculously I did), and because I did not know the story. But when my family came home they were effusive. I have a habit of missing the really brilliant high school plays (I am still furious with myself for missing two performances when I was in high school; the home-school theater glory days it seemed until now).
The next evening we went out to dinner, and I brought up the musical. Mom said one of my sisters wanted to see it again. So my three little sisters piled into my car, and we claimed a front and central view. I am so glad I could see it. We knew several of the principle actors, and they did such a good job. The whole performance was just darling. I had heard of a few of the song titles, and perhaps part of one of the songs before.
I soon ordered the movie and Broadway soundtrack from the library, and the ladies of the family watched the movie together. I preferred the little people’s version, but I still enjoyed the movie and would like to see it on Broadway (with a younger, handsomer music man).
Anyway, I have a new song to add to my scanty repertoire of songs which I like: “Goodnight My Someone”